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Author Topic: Tag VS Octane  (Read 4619 times)

J_w73

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Tag VS Octane
« on: May 06, 2015, 05:50:06 AM »
I am still deciding on my Octane but I don't seem to hate it as much as everyone else.  My Octane is a lot cleaner through the heads and gets down the lane easier than my Sigma Sting.  It is a lot more angular and continuous on the back end.  I do find the Octane more for for medium light to lighter patterns when I need to get deep inside and need a lot of angle to get back to the pocket.

I just got a Tag that I have yet to drill up.  How should the Tag compare to my Octane? Is it going to store even more energy for the backend and be sharper and bigger than my Octane or should it be tamer?
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spmcgivern

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Re: Tag VS Octane
« Reply #1 on: May 06, 2015, 08:19:26 AM »
My initial guess is the Tag will be a little weaker.  However, since you are currently using the Octane on medium-light to light, I am not sure how much different it will be for you, especially on THS.  The Tag should be more consistent than the Octane, but whether it hooks more or less is unknown. 

I would also think the Tag will be a hair earlier than the Octane and this will be the reason it will be more consistent.  The Octane needed friction to really behave properly and would wiggle on the lightest of oil at the breakpoint.
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J_w73

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Re: Tag VS Octane
« Reply #2 on: May 06, 2015, 10:15:40 AM »
I'm wondering if the TAG is what they wanted the Octane to be, even though it is rated for a little less oil.  I notice that they both use a version of the Agility coverstock.  I'm still not sure exactly how I want to drill it.  I'm thinking a little longer pin to PAP than my Octane to get more length out of it.  I still want to be able to put a MOtion hole it it though.  I have one in my Octane and I am sold on it.  It really made that ball wake up on the back end.
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Brickguy221

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Re: Tag VS Octane
« Reply #3 on: May 06, 2015, 11:23:56 AM »
I have just had my TAG drilled. Tried it yesterday on lanes that were a bit used but not all that bad. There was definitely more oil than normal though inside the 10 board area. Threw the Octane a few throws first to see what the lanes were like, throwing it over the 12-13 board area out to the 7-8 board area and it worked to perfection.

I then tried the TAG on the same lines and it didn't have enough recovery off the spot, especially if I tugged it a bit, whereas when tugging the Octane, it still performed. To sum it up, the TAG simply didn't "have it" on the back end, so I moved outside and threw straight down the 6-7 board area parallel to the gutter and and the TAG performed great. I feared it being snappy, but it wasn't. When it made it's move, it was really smooth and continous all the way thru the pin deck.

Both balls have similar drillings with the Octane @ 40 x 3 7/8 x 65 with  P3 hole and the TAG @ 40 x 3 1/2 x 60 with hole 2" down the VAL.

I have altered the overstock on both balls ... Octane 500 grit sanding and Valentino's Snake Oil Polish ... Tag, I took the polish off and sanded to 2000 grit after first trying it with NIB finish for a few throws the night I had it drilled and it didn't come close to working for me.

I once hated my Octane, but after trying numerous cover adjustments and "maybe" now finding the right one plus my changing my grip to the Joe Slowinski ADT Grip which has upped my revs as I had very low revs, it has been performing really great lately. Anxious to see if it will do same when league starts next week.
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J_w73

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Re: Tag VS Octane
« Reply #4 on: May 19, 2015, 05:15:11 PM »
I finally had my Tag drilled up yesterday.  Drilled it 5.5 pin to PAP with the pin about an inch above the bridge.  I think I may have gone a little too far from the PAP as the ball barely flares.  There is no separation between the rings. The ball was very over under and didn't have much at all on the back end.  I was bowling on some used lanes that had some carry down from plastic balls so that may have had something to do with it..  I set it up to be able to take a motion hole so I might give that a try or put some other flare increasing hole in it. Trying it tonight in a league that is usually really dry to see how it preforms.
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billdozer

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Re: Tag VS Octane
« Reply #5 on: May 19, 2015, 05:48:44 PM »
I'd say the tag is better cuz its new?!
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Brickguy221

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Re: Tag VS Octane
« Reply #6 on: May 19, 2015, 07:18:43 PM »
I tried my TAG today in league at 500 grit and light to medium polish and it didn't perform near as well as it does at 4000 grit and no polish and 2000 grit and no polish. For me and my style it appears that 2000 grit and no polish may be the best cover set-up for me on medium to medium-light oiled lanes.

The 500 grit and polish did work well yesterday on used lanes with not a lot of oil on them, but didn't do well at all today on fresh medium oil lanes. Simply was weak on the back-end and didn't have a decent back-end at all. I may have to set it up @ 500 grit and light polish for light oil lanes only and use my Octane for medium oil or get a second TAG and set it up at 2000 grit for medium oil.
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